Prayer Guides

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Restored!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Restored!

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on being restored.  I remember as a pre-teen boy wanting to restore one of several cars from the fifties that had been abandoned in a woods near the house.  It never happened because while I had the desire, I had no ability.  Most of them probably would have been considered lost causes due to a variety of issues including trees growing up through them.  It is comforting to know that regardless of how much of a lost cause I may look like, God still has the ability and desire to restore me to Himself.  As you pray this week, ask God to fill you with the hope of His glory as He continues His work of restoration in your life even through suffering.  Pray that you realize His current restoration work in your life as well as anticipate the complete restoration when you see Jesus face to face.  Pray that you would carry with you a message of restoration to the people around you who are losing, or have lost, hope.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time praying each day about how God has restored you and about how He can use you to help others know they too can be restored.

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.  Pray for the opportunity I have coming up in a couple of weeks to put more prayer-based resources into the hands of camp leaders.

Monday:  Restored to Joy.  Pray that God would fill you with an indescribable joy because of the salvation you have in Christ.  Pray that your joy would be sustained by a steadfast spirit within you.  “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”  Psalm 51:12 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Restored to Life.  Pray that you would have a confident hope in Christ that even the midst of great troubles, and even death, God will restore you to life with Him through His Son, Jesus.  “Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.”  Psalm 71:20 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Restored Through Repentance to Serve God.  Pray that you would always repent of any sin and wrongdoing that keeps you from serving God.  “Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.'”  Jeremiah 15:19 (NIV)

Thursday:  Restored by the Return of Jesus.  Pray for a patient understanding that complete restoration will not take place until Jesus returns.  Pray that you would be involved in living the process of restoration until that time.  “He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”  Acts 3:21 (NIV)

Friday:  Restored Gently.  Pray that the restoration you receive from God would help you be willing to restore others with gentleness.  Pray that your compassion in restoring others would not lead you to participate in wrongdoing.  “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”  Galatians 6:1 (NIV)

Saturday:  Restored Through Prayer.  Thank God for the opportunity to pray for one another in their times of need.  Pray that you would be more diligent in praying that the people around you would be fully restored to Christ.  “And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.”  Philemon 1:22 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: On Guard!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  On Guard

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Be on guard! Be alert ! You do not know when that time will come.  It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.   Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back — whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.  If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.  What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'”
Mark 13:32-37 (NIV)

Anyone that has ever been in a battle understands the need for constant vigilance — to always be on guard.  But the truth is, we are all in a daily battle that is taking place over the eternal destination of our souls.  Paul writes of our need to wage war, not with the weapons of the world, but with the spiritual armor of God.  This week our prayer focus will be on our need to constantly be On Guard.  As you pray, ask God to help you be aware of the attempts of the enemy to destroy you.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus would fill you with His presence in a way that gives you the strength, wisdom, and courage to always be on guard.  Pray that your desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection would be greater than any other desire you have.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time praying each day about how you are doing at living life On Guard.

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  On Guard Against Betrayers.  Pray that God would protect your heart and mind from the damage caused by betrayers.  Pray that your trust of God would fill you with peace.  “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.”  Matthew 10:17 (NIV)

Tuesday:  On Guard Against False Teaching.  Pray that God would help you to be devoted to His teachings so that false teaching would not deceive you.  “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect — if that were possible.  So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”  Mark 13:22-23 (NIV)

Wednesday:  On Guard Against Hypocrisy.  Pray that God would surround you with people whose lives match their words.  Pray that you would always be on guard against the temptation to be someone different than who God says you are.  “Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.’”  Luke 12:1 (NIV)

Thursday:  On Guard Against Greed.  Pray that you would always be on guard against the desire to measure yourself, and others, by the things that are owned.  “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”  Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Friday:  On Guard Against Opposition.  Pray that God would help you to see the source of any opposition you face.  Pray that you would be on guard against those who would oppose the message of the gospel.  “Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.  You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.”  2 Timothy 4:14-15 (NIV)

Saturday:  On Guard Against Error.  Pray that the confidence you have in Christ would not make you blind to the temptation of error others may entice you with.  “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.”  2 Peter 3:17 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: Trust
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Lifestyle of Prayer: Trust

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Trust

“Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
Psalm 20:6-7 (NIV)

If you have ever placed your trust in something, or someone, and then felt that the trust given was misplaced or betrayed, you are not alone.  The nature of our human flesh and man-made things almost guarantees that you will not only be let down multiple times in your life, but that you will also let others down more than once.  This week our prayer focus is on Trust and some of the things it ought to produce in our life from God’s perspective.  When we put our trust in the only One who is completely trustworthy, it produces some great qualities in our life.  As we learn to trust God with our relationships, fears, weaknesses, and all the big and little aspects of our life, we begin to exhibit character traits that represent Jesus well to the world.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you trust Him with all of the things that have filled you with doubt.  Pray that you would experience His faithfulness as your trust grows each day.   Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time praying each day about what your level of trust is producing.

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  Trust that Produces Strength.  Pray that God would give you a stillness in the midst of turmoil.  Pray that you would live with a lifestyle of repentance and rest because of your trust in God.  “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’”  Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Trust that Produces Faithfulness.  Pray that you would remain faithful to the things of God which have been entrusted to you.  Pray that your faithfulness would reflect a life lived as a servant of God.  “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.   Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”  1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Trust that Produces Peace.  Pray that you would always turn to God in complete trust of the work He has done through His Son, Jesus.  Pray that God’s Spirit within you would fill you with peace in the midst of turmoil as you trust in Him.  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”  John 14:1 (NIV)

Thursday:  Trust that Produces Humility.  Pray that your life would exhibit meekness and humility because of your trust in God.  Pray that the people around you would recognize in you a humility that comes from your relationship with Jesus.  “But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the LORD.”  Zephaniah 3:12 (NIV)

Friday:  Trust that Produces Care.  Pray that you would learn to trust God as your refuge in times of trouble.  Pray that the people around you would see God’s goodness as you trust Him.  “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”  Nahum 1:7 (NIV)

Saturday:  Trust that Produces Joy and Hope.  Pray that you would be filled with great joy as you trust God.  Pray that the hope He gives you through His Spirit would overflow as a witness to the people around you each day.  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: What God Hates
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Lifestyle of Prayer: What God Hates

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  What God Hates

“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV)

If I were to ask the question, “What does God hate?”, without posting the above verses, I suspect I would get a list of what people consider to be “big” sins while the “everyday” stuff would be noticeably absent.  This week we will pray about some things that the Bible says God hates.  As you pray, ask God to help you examine your inner thoughts, as well as your life, to “see if there is any offensive way” in you.  Pray that God would purify your heart and mind of the things He hates.  Pray that your realization of the presence of these things would amplify your view of the incredible love God has for mankind.  Pray for the courage to remove the “logs” of sin from your life before you help your brothers and sisters recognize the sin they need to deal with.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time praying each day that God would give you His perspective on the things He hates.

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  Haughty Eyes.  While we may not use the word haughty very often, we all recognize that look of pride.  Pray that your eyes would be filled with humility.  “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!”  Proverbs 21:4 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Lying Tongue.  Pray that you would be truthful in the words you say to, and about, others.  Pray that  God would be delighted with your speech.  “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.”  Proverbs 12:22 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Shedding of Innocent Blood.  As you consider Jesus equating hatred with murder, pray that you would not be guilty of shedding innocent blood with your actions or with you attitude.  “So you will purge from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.”  Deuteronomy 21:9 (NIV)

Thursday:  Wicked Schemes.   Pray that you would not fall to the schemes of the wicked.  Pray that you would live life in a straightforward manner and not be known as a schemer.  “Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.”  Psalm 119:150 (NIV)

Friday:  A Rush to Evil.  Pray that you would think before you act so that God would help you avoid evil.  Pray that a pursuit of peace would keep you from being attracted to evil.  “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”  Psalm 34:14 (NIV)

Saturday:  False Witness.  Pray that you would not be deceived by someone’s false testimony about another.  Pray that you would not be involved in speaking, or listening to, false testimony.  “A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever.”  Proverbs 21:28 (NIV)

Extra Prayer Focus:  Divisiveness.  Pray that you would seek unity through the Word and Spirit of God.  “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”  Romans 16:17 (NIV)

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Excel!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Excel!

“But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

What are some things that you are good at doing?  Are there things that others say you excel in?  How much work, or effort, is usually required to excel in a given area?  This week’s prayer focus will use a list of things that Paul states the Corinthian Christians excel in, or need to excel in.  Paul’s letter was not only written to the Corinthians, but as scripture it is useful to us for training in all righteousness.  As you pray this week, ask God to give you His grace and the courage necessary to excel in the things that matter to Him.  Pray that you would be diligent applying each day’s topic to your life with the work necessary for you to become good at it.  Pray that your pursuit of excelling in these areas would come from the very source and foundation of all things excellent — Jesus Christ.   Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time praying about each day about the things that God wants you to excel in through the power of His Spirit within you.  Thank you! 

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  Excel in Faith.  As you pray for God to increase your faith, look for the situations He will give that requires your trust of Him to grow.  Pray that your trust of God would cause others to know you as one who excels in faith.  “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’”  Luke 17:5 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Excel in Speech.  Pray that God would put a guard over your mouth so that your speech is pleasing to Him.  Pray that your speech would bring about good days for you and for the people around you in this life and the life to come.  “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”  1 Peter 3:10 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Excel in Knowledge.  Pray that your life would be lived in pursuit of a greater knowledge of Christ.  Pray that your excelling in knowledge would not puff you up but would help others know Jesus.  “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!  Amen.”  2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

Thursday:  Excel in Complete Earnestness.   Pray that there would be nothing fake about your pursuit of God and relationship with Him through Jesus.  “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

Friday:  Excel in Love for One Another.  Pray that you would daily learn from the love that Jesus excelled at.  Pray that you would desire to excel in your love for Christ and for one another.  “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

Saturday:  Excel in the Grace of Giving.  Pray that a recognition of God’s ownership of everything would help you to excel in the gift of giving He has placed in your life.  “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38 (NIV)

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Enough!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Enough!

“Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”
2 Chronicles 31:10 (NIV)

How often have you said or thought, “There just isn’t enough to _______”?  Many people spend their entire life believing they’ve been short-changed somehow.  They can give you a list of things they would have done or accomplished if only they had enough — enough time, enough money, enough courage, enough compassion, enough wisdom, enough _______.  This week’s prayer focus is on some things that we can have enough of through our relationship with Christ.  When we live life believing we have enough, we learn to share as God wants us to.  When we share, the people around us who are in need have enough because of God’s provision.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you recognize the “enough” He has given and spend time listening for how He would have you use it.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time each day praying about who Jesus is according to scripture and about who He is in your life.  Thank you! 

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  Enough for Each Day.  Pray that you would recognize the provision that God supplies as being enough for your day.  “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.’”  Exodus 16:4 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Enough to Satisfy.  Pray that you will see what God has given you as being enough to fully satisfy.  “The LORD will reply to them: ‘I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations.’”  Joel 2:19 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Enough Trouble for Each Day.  Pray that you would seek God’s kingdom and righteousness in a way that helps you overcome the trouble that each day brings.  “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)

Thursday:  Enough to Be Like Your Teacher and Master.   Pray that you would be filled with a humility that seeks to be like Jesus.  “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”  Matthew 10:24-25a (NIV)

Friday:  Enough to Be a Disciple.  Pray that you would recognize full surrender is what is enough to be a disciple of Jesus.  “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.  Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?”  Luke 14:28 (NIV)

Saturday:  Enough Wisdom to Judge Disputes.  Pray that you would be filled with wisdom that is enough to help fellow believers get along with each other.  “I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?”  1 Corinthians 6:5 (NIV)

 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: New Testament Sacrifice!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  New Testament Sacrifice!

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

Mention the word sacrifice today and people tend to get a little nervous.  Not that they are often concerned with having to kill an animal and offer it to God, but because sacrifice has often become a church buzz-word for “give more money”.  Because our mind goes to our wallet, the excuses pour out rather quickly.  We quote the verses, “It is better to obey than sacrifice”, “Sacrifice I did not desire”, and even use the excuse that sacrifice is an Old Testament concept and we’re a New Testament people.  I believe sacrifice is a very Biblical concept and this week our prayer focus will be on sacrifice from a New Testament perspective.  We are called to imitate God in the same manner that Jesus did — who loved us enough to give of Himself sacrificially to meet a need we could never meet on our own.  As you pray this week, pray that God would instruct you in the areas of sacrifice He is calling you to.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time each day praying about who Jesus is according to scripture and about who He is in your life.  Thank you! 

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  God’s Example of Sacrifice.  Pray that the love of God, shown through the sacrifice of Jesus, would serve as an example for the way you love others.  “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  1 John 4:10-11 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Living Sacrifice.  Pray that you would consider yourself to be a living sacrifice offered to God.  Pray that you would understand this sacrifice to be worship.  “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.”  Romans 12:1

Wednesday:  Acceptable Sacrifice.  Pray that you would grow in the grace of giving to meet needs in a way that presents an acceptable sacrifice to God.  “I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”  Philippians 4:18 (NIV)

Thursday:  Sacrifice of Praise.  Pray that the name of Jesus would always be on your lips in a way that praises God.  Pray that your sacrifice of praise would help others to know Jesus.  “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name.”  Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)

Friday:  Pleasing Sacrifice.  Pray that you would always remember the good you ought to do — then do it.  Pray that you would make the most of opportunities around you to share with others in a way that pleases God.  “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)

Saturday:  Spiritual Sacrifice.  Pray that you would always allow God to build you into the house that He desires for you to be — a house where spiritual sacrifices are offered.  “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  1 Peter 2:5  (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: God’s Indescribable Gift!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  God’s Indescribable Gift!

“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
2 Corinthians 9:14-15 (NIV)

With the Christmas holiday behind us, it is good to reflect on gifts given and received.  Perhaps you have gifts that will be returned because they weren’t right for you.  I pray that there are gifts you will cherish because you know they represent the heart of the giver.  As Christians, God has given us what Paul calls an “indescribable gift”.  In context, he seems to connect this gift with the “surpassing grace” of God.  I believe Jesus is at the heart of this great gift.  This week our prayer focus will be on the indescribable gift we have through our relationship with Jesus.  As you pray, remember that His presence ought to be evident in your life at all times — not just when it is seasonally appropriate.  Pray that God’s grace in your life would overflow in such a way that the people around you would recognize it.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time each day praying about who Jesus is according to scripture and about who He is in your life.  Thank you! 

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  JESUS.  Pray that you would recognize the indescribable gift of God in your life through the presence of Jesus.  Pray that God’s gift would cause you to seek Him for all that you need.  “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’”  John 4:10 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Joy.  Pray that you would experience and share true joy because of the gift of Jesus in your life.  Pray that the people around you would see the joy of Christ in you.  “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”  John 17:13 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Energy.  Pray that you would be faithful in doing the good works God has created for you to do as you use the energy of Jesus within you.  Pray that you would trust the power of God to work within you to accomplish what you cannot. “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”  Colossians 1:29 (NIV)

Thursday:  Salvation.  Pray that you would always value the salvation you receive through Jesus Christ.  Pray that the people around you would know God’s desire for them to be saved.  “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NIV)

Friday:  Uniqueness.  Pray that Jesus would always be the one you look to for your salvation.  Pray that the people around you would come to know Jesus as the only way to be saved.  “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12 (NIV)

Saturday:  Surrender.  Pray that you would surrender everything to the Lordship of Jesus.  Pray that you would have a greater understanding of both the cost and reward of being a disciple of Jesus.  “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  Luke 14:33 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Unto Us!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Unto Us!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

“’She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ — which means, ‘God with us.’” 
Matthew 1:21-22 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  This week we bring back a focus on some scriptures regarding the birth of Jesus and the names He was to be called.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time each day praying about who Jesus is according to scripture and about who He is in your life.  Thank you! 

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Wonderful Counselor.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus reveals His presence, the Wonderful Counselor, living in you.  Pray that you would seek God’s counsel in everything you do.  “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”  John 14:26 (NIV)

Tuesday: Mighty God.  Pray that your life submits fully to the authority and might of God.  Pray that your life would show to others that you believe in a mighty God.  “But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”  Luke 22:69 (NIV)

Wednesday: Everlasting Father.  Pray that your life shows a trust in an eternal Father and Savior.  Pray that the people around you would know true hope because of an everlasting Father.  “’I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’”  John 8:58 (NIV)

Thursday: Prince of Peace.  Pray that you would seek peace with God who desires to bring all people to peace with Him through Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would see God’s peace evident in your life.  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  Luke 2:14 (NIV)

Friday: Jesus.  Pray that you completely experience the cleansing power of the name of Jesus who came to save His people from their sins.  Pray that the people around you would call on the One who saves.  “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst.”  I Timothy 1:15 (NIV)

Saturday:  Immanuel.  Pray that your life is a constant reminder to those around you that God is with us and has come to help His people.  “They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help his people.’”  Luke 7:16 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Not Afraid!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 

This week’s prayer focus:  Not Afraid!

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him.”
Luke 12:4-5 (NIV)

As a follow-up to last week’s prayer focus of fear, this week’s prayer focus is Not Afraid!  While we need to have a “reverent fear” or “holy fear” of God, He also repeatedly tells us to not be afraid.  Often it seems as if we are afraid of people and have no fear of God.  As we pray about not being afraid, we will look at some of the reasons that God tells us to have no fear of the people of this world.  God has promised to fill us with His peace through the power of His Word and His Spirit as we learn to trust Him and not be afraid.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you to have a greater trust of Him when He calls you to not be afraid.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time each day praying about, writing down, and doing how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.  Thank you! 

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Trust in God makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that your trust in God would grow so that you can praise Him and His Word when you are tempted to be afraid.  “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.  What can mortal man do to me?”  Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)

Tuesday: God’s Presence makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that you would learn to recognize God’s presence in your life as a reason to not be afraid.  Pray that the people around you would recognize God’s presence living in you so they could learn to not be afraid.  “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?”  Psalm 118:6 (NIV)

Wednesday: Salvation from God makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that you would live with a confidence of salvation from God that keeps you from being afraid.  “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”  Isaiah 12:2 (NIV)

Thursday: God’s Rescue makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that your remembrance of the ways God has rescued you will help you to not be afraid in times of trouble.  Pray that you would help others to know of God’s rescue from being afraid.  “‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 1:8 (NIV)

Friday: God’s Good News makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that you would live out the joy of the good news of Jesus and share it in ways that others would know they need not be afraid.  “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  Luke 2:10 (NIV)

Saturday:  God’s Peace makes me Not Afraid.  Pray that the presence of God’s Spirit within you would fill you with a peace that helps you to not be afraid.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27 (NIV)